Single-zone SST guide

White Marlin water temperature at Norfolk & Washington Canyons.

  • Kajikia albida
  • Billfish
  • August: peak

Typical August SST in Norfolk & Washington Canyons is 74–84°F. White Marlin prefer 70–82°F with peak activity in 73–79°F.

SST threshold

White Marlin threshold gauge.

50°55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Peak 73–79°
Outside toleranceSuboptimalGoodPeak·Dashed line = hard threshold

Year-round overlap

Norfolk & Washington Canyons SST × White Marlin range.

Where Norfolk & Washington Canyons typical monthly SST overlaps with white marlin's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.

Best months

June, July, August, September

MonthZone SSTStatus
Jan48–58°FOutside
Feb48–56°FOutside
Mar50–60°FOutside
Apr54–64°FOutside
May60–70°FOutside
Jun68–78°FPeak
Jul72–82°FPeak
Augnow74–84°FPeak
Sep70–80°FPeak
Oct64–72°FFishable
Nov56–64°FOutside
Dec50–60°FOutside

Best months

June, July, August, September

White marlin fishing is sight fishing at the surface — pitch baits to fish coming up on a teaser. Find them on the warm side of a 2–3°F break in 73–79°F water. Mid-Atlantic canyon mornings in August are the iconic bite.

Verify with current SST imagery

These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.

Live SST imagery for Norfolk & Washington Canyons.

Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Norfolk & Washington Canyons hits white marlin's optimal 73–79°F window.

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